Refrigerating apparatus



Oct. 8, 1935. R s GAUGLER 2,016,368

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed May 26, 1933 Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE REFRIGERA'L ING APPARATUS Application May 26, 1933, Serial No. 672,916

16 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for automatically disposing of moisture and water dripping from the cooling means of the refrigerating apparatus.

Mechanical refrigerators, whether of the absorption or compression type, operating as they do to maintain a temperature in the evaporator or cooling unit below the temperature of the air being cooled, act to a certain extent as driers. In other words, they extract lwater or moisture from the air within the cabinet being cooled, the amount of moisture extracted depending to a large extent upon the temperature of the evaporator.

If the temperature of the evaporator is above 32 F. then the moisture collecting on the evaporator does not freeze but runs oif or drains into some sort of receptacle located either within or without the cabinet.

If the temperature of the evaporator is maintained below 32 F. then the moisture extracted from the air freezes on the evaporator in the form of frost. Even in this latter case it is necessary occasionally to dispose of the frost or ice since it acts as an insulator.

Heretofore this has been done manually, but recently automatic devices, such as that shown in the King Patent No. 1,658,340, and the Raney Patents No. 1,877,967 and No. 1,867,711, have been suggested for performing this function automatically. This is done by periodically increasing the temperature of the cooling unit above the freezing point so that the frost melts from the cooling unit. This melted frost drips in the form of water from the cooling unit and has been customarily collected in some sort of a receptacle located within or without the cabinet. is not emptied at the proper time, it is likely to overflow and cause considerable trouble and dissatisfaction.

Itis therefore an object of my invention to provide an automatic electrical means which will dispose of the drip water from any cooling means automatically Without requiring any attention.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide an electrical evaporating means comprising a plurality of electrodes which evaporate the drip water from the cooling unit when it accumulates in the receptacle provided therefor.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an electrical water evaporating device Whose operation is begun by the accumulation of a certain amount of water in the receptacle and whose If this receptacle (Cl. (i2- 103) operation is terminate-d when the water level in the receptacle is reduced to a certain point.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompany- 5 ing drawing, wherein apreferred form of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an electric refrigerator embodying my invention; 10 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the drip water evaporating means;

Fig. 3 is a modified form of the drip water evaporating means; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on 15 the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a refrigerator cabinet 2U having a food compartment 2| and a machinery compartment 22. The food compartment 20 2| is surrounded by insulated walls 23 and is cooled by electrical cooling means which includes a cooling unit 24 and a refrigerant liquefying means or unit 25. The refrigerant liquefying unit 25 comprises a compressor 26 for compressing the 25 refrigerant and for forwarding the compressed refrigerant to the condenser 21 where the refrigerant is liquefied and collected in a receiver 28. From the receiver 28 the liquid refrigerant is forwarded through a supply conduit 29 under the 30 control of a suitable automatic expansion valve 30 to the cooling unit 24. The liquid refrigerant within the cooling unit 24 evaporates because of the absorption of heat from the air within the food compartment 2| and is returned to the com- 35 pressor through the return conduit 3 I. The compressor 25 is driven by an electric motor 32 through suitable pulley and belt means 33.

The operation of the electric motor 32 and the compressor 25 is under the control of an auto- 40 matic switch 34 which may be of the type shown in the King Patent No. 1,658,340 or that shown in one of the Raney Patents No. 1,877,967 and No. 1,867,711. This automatic switch 34 is under the control of the thermostatic bulb 35 which is 45 in contact with the lower portion of the cooling unit 24. The automatic switch 34 is connected into the electrical supply conductors 3l to open and close the electric motor circuit at suitable intervals to properly control the temperature of 50 the cooling unit 24.

The automatic switch 34 normally controls the temperature of the cooling unit 24 so that its tempcrature is maintained below water freezing temperatures. This causes frost to collect on this bottom of the food compartment directly beneath the cooling unit 24. The bottom of this pan is connected by a tube 4| which passes through the bottom wall of the food compartment into the machine compartment 22. The lower end of this tube 44| is sealed by a cup-shaped member 63 which forms a liquid trap in cooperation with the lower end of the tube. Surrounding the lower end of this tube 4| which passes through the top wall of the machinery compartment 22 is a generally cylindrical die cast metal support 42. This support has a flange'43 surrounding its top edge which is fastened to the top wall of the machinery compartment by screws 44. This support also has an internal flange 45. To this internal flange there is fastened a porcelain plate 46 by means of screws 41. On the bottom side of the porcelain plate 46 there is fastened by means of the binding screws 48 and 49 a pair of electrodes 5|) and 5| which are in the form of perforated heavy sheet steel plates which are close together but spaced apart. These electrodes or perforated metal plates 50 and 5| extend downwardly in parallel relation from the porcelain plate 46 and are connected by but insulated from each other by a screw 52 which is insulated by the porcelain bushings 53 to hold the lower enc of the plates in proper spaced relation. These plates 5D and 5| are located directly beneath the lower end of the tube 4| so that any drip water passing downwardly through the tube 4| will pass between the plates 50 and 5|. These plates 50 and 5| each have a large area of surface nearest each other equidistant so that current ilow from one plate to another may be more uniform over the areas.

Beneath the internal flange 45 there is another internal flange 55 within the cylindrical metal support. To this internal flange 55 there is connected a cylindrical metal safety and draft shield 56 which serves as a chimney. This cylindrical draft shield surrounds the lower portion of the perforated electrodes 50 and 5|. Between the internal flanges 45 and 55 there are provided a plurality of apertures 51 in the outer wall of the die cast support 42. These apertures permit any air and vapor flowing up through the chimney 5E to pass out into the machine compartment through these apertures.

The lower end of the die cast support 42 is provided with internal threads 58. Threaded onto these threads 5B is the cup-shaped glass vessel 59 of suitable heat resisting glass, such as Pyrex glass. This glass vessel surrounds the lower end of the chimney 56 and the perforated electrodes 50 and 5|. Between the upper end ol.' the glass vessel 59 and the lower internal flange 55 which supports the chimney 56, there is provided a plurality of apertures 50 in a Wall of the die cast support 42. 'Ihese apertures permit air to enter the glass vessel 59. The glass vessel 59 may be removed by unscrewing it from the die cast support 42.

The electrodes 50 and 5| are connected to a source of electric energy at all times by the eleccooling unit and periodically the automatic switch' tric wires or conductors 6| and 62 which are connected at one end respectively to the binding posts 49 and 48 and at their other ends to the electrical supply lines 31. 'I'his causes the plates to be charged with electrical energy at all times 5 and maintains an electrical potential between these plates. However, since these plates are lnsulated from each other there is ordinarily no current flowing between them and hence no electric energy is used. However, when any moisture 10 drips from the cooling means for any reasonV whatsoever, such as during the defrostlng period, this moisture or drip water is collected by the pan 40 and flows down through the tube 4| into the sealing cup S3 from which it overflows down be- 15 tween the electrodes 50 and 5| into the glass vessel 59. This drip water collects in the lower portion of the glass vessel 59 and when a sufficient amount has been collected, the level of the drip water rises so that it contacts both of the elecm trodes 50 and 5|. By contacting both of the electrodes, the electric energy is permitted to flow from one electrode to the other through the drip water. 'Ihis heats the water and causes the evaporation of this drip water. The arrange- 25 ment of the drip water evaporating means is such that as the level of the water rises in the glass collecting or catching vessel 59 to place more water in contact with the electrodes 5U and 5| a greater amount of electrical energy flows 30 fromone electrode to another through the Water. Therefore, as a greater body of drip water tends to collect in vessel 59 there will be an increased amount of evaporation thereof from the evaporating means, This causes the evaporating means $5 to function automatically to increase the rate of evaporation of drip water from vessel 59, when an abnormal flow of water to vessel 59 occurs, to thus prevent overflow of the water from the evaporating means and to insure complete 40 evaporation of water.

As the drip water evaporates, the level thereof is lowered until the plates are no longer in contact with the drip water. The water evaporated by the plates passes upwardly through the 45 interior of the chimney 56 and out through the apertures 51 in the side wall of the die cast support 42. When the water level in the glass vessel 59 is very low but still contacts the plates, the circulation of air is employed to facilitate 50 the evaporation. This air enters the aperture Bil in the side wall of the die cast 42 and passes downwardly between the walls of the chimney 55 and those of the glass vessel 59. This air then sweeps over the surface of the drip water 55 in the bottom of the glass vessel 59 and then enters the bottom of the chimney 5B and is caused to rise within the chimney because of the heat in the form of the steam rising up through the chimney from the surface of the water surso rounding the bottom of the electrodes and also because of the slight heating of the plates due to the passage of electrical energy therethrough. This air current assists in removing the very last portion of the water which contacts the plates 35 and prevents the plates from remaining too long in contact with the Water.

In Fig. 3 a modification is shown in which the evaporating means instead of being located in the machinery compartment is mounted upon 70 the rear wall of the cabinet. In Fig. 3 there is shown a cooling unit located within the food compartment 8| of a refrigerator cabinet 82. Beneath the cooling unit B0 there is provided a drip pan 83 mounted upon the bottom of the 7l food compartment 8| to collect the moisture or drip water which at times drips from the cooling unit 80. The drip water, which collects in the pan 83, is conducted by a tube 84 to the electricall evaporating means 85 mounted upon the rear wall of the cabinet 82. This evaporating means is similar to the evaporating means shown in Fig. 2 and is similarly connected to the electrical supply lines such as the supply lines 31. The tube 84 is provided with a depressed portion 86 which forms a liquid trap to seal the tube so as to prevent the entrance of external air into the food compartment through this tube. In this modification the glass vessel may be readily removed without entering the machine compartment and the moisture evaporating within the evaporating means can readily pass into the air in the room.

It will be seen that I have provi-ded an extremely simple and effective evaporating means for removing and evaporating the drip water from the cooling means of refrigerators. This removing and evaporating means eliminates the troubles, mentioned at the beginning of this specification, which heretofore have been incidental to the operation of the refrigerators.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be a-dopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, means for cooling air adapted to ilow thereover, said cooling means having moisture dripping therefrom, means for removing the drip from said cooling means, said removing means including a plurality of electrodes separated frorn each other and adapted to be iml mersed in the drip, and means for providing a ow of electric energy from one electrode to another when immersed in the drip to evaporate the drip solely by the ow of electric energy through a drip from one electrode to another.

2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, means for cooling air adapted to flow thereover, said cooling means having moisture dripping therefrom, means for removing the drip from said cooling means, said removing means including a plurality of electrodes separated from each other and adapted to be immersed in the drip, one of said electrodes being a perforated metal member.

3. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, means for cooling air adapted to flow thereover, said cooling means having water dripping therefrom, a plurality of electrodes spaced apart, one of the electrodes being insulated from another electrode, means for maintaining an electrical potential between said electrodes, and means for evaporating the water dripping from the cooling means including means for bringing the drip water into contact with the electrodes, said drip water being evaporated solely by the electric energy flowing through the drip water from one electrode to another.

4. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, means for cooling air adapted to ow thereover, said cooling means having water dripping therefrom, a plurality of electrodes spaced apart, one of the electrodes being insulated from another electrode, means for maintaining an electrical potential between said electrodes, and means for evaporating the water dripping from the cooling means including a receptacle extending around the electrodes, means for conducting the drip water to the receptacle to evaporate the drip water solely by the electric energy flowing through the drip water from one electrode to another.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, means for cooling air adapted to flow thereover, said cooling means having water dripping therefrom, means including an electric circuit for maintaining said cooling means between predetermined temperature limits, a plurality of electrodes spaced apart, one of the electrodes being insulated from another, said electrodes being connected in parallel with said electric circuit for maintaining an electrical potential between said electrodes, means for evaporating water dripping from the cooling means including means for bringing the drip water into contact with the electrodes, said drip water being evaporated solely by the electrical energy owing through the drip water from one electrode to another.

6. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, means, for cooling air adapted to flow thereover, said cooling means having water dripping therefrom, a plurality of electrodes spaced apart, one of the electrodes being insulated from another electrode, means for maintaining an electrical potential between said electrodes, a chimney surrounding said electrodes, a receptacle surrounding said chimney,

and means for conducting the drip water to said receptacle.

7. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, means for cooling air adapted to flow thereover, said cooling means having water dripping therefrom, a plurality of electrodes spaced apart, one of the electrodes being insulated from another electrode, means for maintaining an electrical potential between said electrodes, at least some of said electrodes being vertical perforated metal plates having a large surface area, and means for conducting the drip water into contact with the electrodes for evaporating the water.

8.` A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, means for cooling air adapted to iiow thereover, said cooling means having water dripping therefrom, a plurality of electrodes spaced apart, one of the electrodes being insulated from another electrode, means for maintaining an electrical potential between said electrodes, at least some of said electrodes being metal members close together but spaced and insulated from each oth-er, said metal members having a large surface area in proportion to their volume, and means for conducting the drip water into contact with the metal members.

9. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, means for cooling air adapted to iiow thereover, said cooling means having water dripping therefrom, a plurality of electrodes spaced apart, one of the electrodes being insulated from another electrode, means for maintaining an electrical potential between said electrodes, at least some of said electrodes being metal members having their surfaces substantially equidistant at all points.

l0. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, means for cooling air adapted to flow thereover, said cooling means having water dripping therefrom, a plurality of electrodes spaced apart, one of the electrodes being insulated from another electrode, means for mainffii 4 l taining an electrical potential between said electrodes, at least someI ot said electrodes being metal members having a substantial area of their surfaces spaced butkequidistant from each other.

11. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, means for cooling air adapted to flow .thereoven said cooling means having water dripping therefrom, a plurality of electrodes spaced apart, one of the electrodes being insulated from another electrode, means for maintaining an electrical potential between said electrodes, a receptacle surrounding said electrodes,

g and means for removably supporting the receptacle in position.

12. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, means for cooling air adapted to flow thereover, said cooling means having water dripping therefrom, a plurality ot electrodes spaced apart, one of the electrodes being insulated from another electrode, means for maintaining an electrical potential between said electrodes, said means including an electric circuit, said electrodes having a `large area nearest each other equidistant, and means for conducting the drip water into contact with the electrodes to bridge the gap between the electrodes for closing the electric circuit including the electrodes.

13. Apparatus comprising in combination, a unit for removing moisture from air, means for disposing of saidmoisture removed from the air,

said means including a device normally inactive and rendered active by the moisture removed from the air, and means for increasing the capacity of said device to dispose o! said moisture as the necessity for disposing of said moisture increases.

14. Apparatus comprising in combination, a unit for removing moisture from air, means for disposing of said moisture removed from the air, said means comprising a device the moisture removing capacity of which increases as the necessity to remove moisture increases.

15. Apparatus comprising in combination, a unit for removing moisture from air, means for disposing of said moisture removed from the air, said means comprising an electric device having two electrodes, the effective surface of which increases as the amount of moisture increases.

16. Apparatus comprising in combination, a unit for removing moisture from air, means for catching water dripping from said unit, means automatically initiated by the accumulation of drip water in said catching means for causing evaporation of drip water from said catching means, and said automatically initiated means being constructed and arranged to cause increased evaporation of the drip water in proportion to the amount thereof accumulating in said catching means.

RICHARD S. GAUGLER. 

